Research Advances of Solar Corona and Interplanetary Physics in China: 2012–2014

Solar transients and their related interplanetary counterparts have severe effects on the space environments of the Earth. Therefore, the research of solar corona and interplanetary physics has become the focus of study for both solar and space scientists. Considerable progress has been achieved in these aspects by the solar and space physics community of China during 2012–2014, which will be given in this report. The brief report summarizes the research advances of solar corona and interplanetary physics into the following parts: solar wind origin and turbulence, coronal waves and seismology, solar eruptions, solar energetic particle and galactic cosmic ray, magnetic reconnection,Magnetohydrodynamic(MHD) models and their applications, waves and structures in solar wind,propagation of ICMEs/shocks and their arrival time predictions. These research achievements have been achieved by Chinese solar and space scientists independently or via international collaborations.     

National Report on Space Medicine Progress in 2012–2014

The application of manned spaceflight makes a great impetus on the development of space medicine. With the deep growth of Chinese manned space, our national space medicine has attained great achievements. In this paper, the basic research of Space Medicine and its application in China during 2012–2014 were briefly reviewed.     

空间光学遥感器热控技术研究

分析了遥感器与卫星平台的热控差异,总结了近年来遥感器热控需求的变化,阐述了基于多学科集成的遥感器STOP设计模式,介绍了高精度/高稳定度温度控制、大功耗热量传输、深低温热量传输、Robust热控等适应遥感器热控需求的新技术研究及应用情况。对我国空间光学遥感器热控技术的研究具有一定借鉴意义。     

基于递推差分进化算法的空间机器人参数辨识

针对空间机器人抓取未知目标时的特性参数以及关节摩擦系数的辨识和在线修正问题,提出一种基于递推差分进化算法的实时参数辨识方法。首先采用静态连续摩擦模型描述机器人的关节摩擦特性,并建立两关节空间机器人的非线性动力学模型,然后基于差分进化算法和递推最大似然估计法推导出递推差分进化算法,并用于空间机器人的参数辨识,最后仿真校验了该辨识方法的有效性。仿真结果表明,该算法的辨识精度优于遗传算法和最小二乘法,辨识速度较快,能满足遥操作的要求,且对于动态信息有较好的跟随性。     

空间站信息系统仿真验证平台设计

对空间站信息系统仿真验证平台的设计进行了研究。介绍了信息系统组成架构和工作原理,设计了仿真验证平台方案。给出了总线管理调度及数据融合仿真、高速以太网功能与性能验证、WIFI无线通信仿真验证、基于新架构的数字化仿真,以及信息系统联合仿真的内容、方案和结果。     

Towards a cooperation between the arts,space science research and the European Space Agency – Preliminary findings of the ESA Topical Team Arts and Sciences (ETTAS)

The arts offer alternative insights into reality, which are explored by science in general, and broadened by the activities conducted by the European Space Agency [4] and other space agencies. Similar to the way the members of ESA are ambassadors for spaceflight and science, artists and cultural professionals are ambassadors for human expression, experimentation, and exploration. In June 2011, the ESA Topical Team Arts and Sciences (ETTAS) held a three-day workshop at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. During this workshop, topics and ideas were discussed to develop initiatives between the arts, sciences and ESA. The aim was to foster and expand the human and cultural aspects of space exploration, and at the same time offer a means of communication that aims to reach audiences beyond the scope of traditional space-related channels. The consensus of the team was that establishing and sustaining a transdisciplinary professional community consisting of ESA representatives, scientists and artists would fuel knowledge transfer, and mutual inspiration. Potential ways to provide a sustainable cooperation within and between the various groups were discussed. We present the preliminary findings including a number of measures and mechanisms to initiate and conduct such an initiative. Plausible organisational measures, procedures and consequences, as well as a proposition on how to proceed are also discussed. Overall, the involvement and cooperation between the arts, space science research and ESA will enhance in the citizens of the ESA member states the sense of public ownership of ESA results, and participation in ESA?s research.     

ICAN: A novel laser architecture for space debris removal

The development of a fiber based laser architecture will enable novel applications in environments which have hitherto been impossible due to size, efficiency and power of traditional systems. Such a new architecture has been developed by the International Coherent Amplification Network (ICAN) project. Here we present an analysis of utilizing an ICAN laser for the purpose of tracking and de-orbiting hyper-velocity space debris. With an increasing number of new debris from collisions of active, derelict and new payloads in orbit, there is a growing danger of runaway debris impacts. Due to its compactness and efficiency, it is shown that space-based operation would be possible. For different design parameters such as fiber array size, it is shown that the kHz repetition rate and kW average power of ICAN would be sufficient to de-orbit small 1–10 cm debris within a single instance via laser ablation.     

What role for Europe within a future global space exploration approach?

Europe is present in robotic exploration though the European Space Agency?s mandatory space science program and the optional Aurora program. In addition some member states are also involved in projects of non-European space faring countries through bilateral co-operations. Europe is also present in human exploration through the ISS utilization program. ESA and some of its member states participate in the activities of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG), a club of 14 space agencies working for the elaboration of a global exploration roadmap. Finally, ESA and the European Union have initiated a political approach with the setting up of an international forum so as to elaborate a commonly agreed vision on space exploration at political level.     

Life-sciences research opportunities in commercial suborbital space flight

Commercial suborbital space flights will reach altitudes above 100 km, with 3–5 min of weightlessness bracketed by high-g launch and landing phases. The proposed frequency of these flights, and the large passenger population, present interesting opportunities for researchers in the life sciences. The characteristics of suborbital flight are between those of parabolic and orbital flights, opening up new scientific possibilities and easing the burden for obtaining access to 0g.